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by everydayentropy 1171 days ago
Socialization is far more important than any other skill that a child learns in primary and even secondary education.

I don't see ever see the wide adoption of an AI homeschooling solution coming to fruition due to this fact.

2 comments

Eh? Homeschooling is a very social activity. I'd argue it's more pro-social than government schools: homeschooled students are learning/ working in more communal environments (e.g. the family home), they spend far less time on busy work, and they tend to have more free time which is then spent on group extracurricular activities.

While many families did jump on homeschooling because of inexpensive computers, online courses and tutors, government schools jumped on online courses, assignments, instructors, etc. even when there is a teacher and two dozen classmates in the room. Government schools are far less pro-social, IME.

To whatever extent AI drives down the cost, it will accelerate the movement toward homeschooling, but I don't see it reducing the prosocial aspects of homeschooling, while it likely will in government schools.

Empirically, home schooled kids are more socially awkward. I have nothing against home schooling, but the kids are definitely more limited in their exposure to different people and situations.
I've not noticed this personally, and have known loads of homeschooled people.

When you say "empirically" though, I'm assuming there some info out there that backs this up? Would love to take a look, as homeschooling is on the table for us.

I'd say that even applies to most tertiary (undergrad) education too. Unless the student is committed to becoming a pure math researcher or similar.